The tally for the front runners stayed agonizingly close through the night but it was the last two awards - the coveted best director and best picture - that made it clear it was not to be the Tiger's year.

In the end, "Gladiator" walked away with five Oscars, including best picture, and "Traffic" four, including best director for Steven Soderbergh.

Ang Lee had been favored to win the year's top directing prize after he won the award for best feature film director earlier this month from the Director's Guild of America.